I have been interested in host-parasite relationships since I was in high school, which is a little frightening. Even more frightening is the fact that part of my Ph.D. thesis research was related to the topic of a high school science fair project (impact of parasites on avian condition). I have long been interested in the reciprocal effects of hosts and parasites on one another, both in ecological and evolutionary time. I am particularly interested in understanding factors that govern parasite specificity, speciation, co-speciation, competition and adaptive radiation.

Research

Over the years I have published papers on a variety of host and parasite groups. However, my favorite study system consists of birds and their feather-feeding lice. This is because feather lice pass their entire life cycle on the body of the host, making their populations very tractable, both in micro- and macro-evolutionary time. In short, when you hold a bird in your hand, you are essentially holding the parasite’s niche. For this reason, it is possible to carry out lab-based studies on parasites that are more of less living under natural conditions.

In my lab
we carry out a number of kinds of studies, including the following:

Experimental work with a model
system consisting of Rock Pigeons (like those you see in the city
park) and their feather lice. Much of this work involves tests
of the efficiency of different adaptations birds have for defending
themselves against ectoparasites, ranging from morphological to
physiological to behavioral traits (e.g. bill morphology, preen
oil, and anti-parasite behaviors, such as sunning).

Comparative experimental studies
using different species of North American pigeons and doves, (e.g.
Band-tailed Pigeons, and Mourning, White-winged, and White-tipped
Doves) and their lice.

Phylogenetically independent
comparative analyses of a variety of temperate and tropical birds
and their parasites. We look at the relationship of host morphology,
ecology and behavior to parasite load. We also look at the interaction
of natural and sexual selection in the evolution of anti-parasite
behavior.

Taxonomic and co-phylogenetic
work reconstructing macroevolutionary patterns between birds, their
feather lice, and endosymbiotic bacteria in the lice.

Phylogenetic and behavioral
work on birds, particularly Australasian cave-swiftlets, which
nest in caves and echolocate, like bats. We are interested in understanding
the evolution of echolocation.

Faunal inventory work in the
tropics, collecting museum specimens of birds, mammals, reptiles,
amphibians, and their endo- and ecto-parasites.

Work on the ecological immunology and management of invasive parasites of
Darwin's Finches - especially the nest fly Philornis downsi.

Finally, we have developed
a new, non-chemical method for killing head lice on children. We
are in the process of commercializing this technology for use around the world. Lousebuster Information

1) Ecology and Evolution; Biol 3410, a large lecture course required of our biology majors. I consider this to be one of the most important courses that any biology major can take. Ecology teaches the basic principles underlying interactions of species with the non-living environment and with one another. Among other things, it is a topic of paramount importance for understanding the pressing issues we face, such as climate change. Evolution is the unifying theme underlying all of biology. It is crucial to understand the basic principles of evolution just to be an informed citizen.

2) Desert Ecology Field Course; Biol 5455, a small, intimate course limited to 12 students. This is a residential course that lasts three weeks at the start of summer every other year. During the course we visit all four North American Deserts (Great Basin, Mojave, Chihuahuan and Sonoran). We compare the diversity of plants, birds and other organisms across these deserts and we explore climatological and other factors responsible for the differences among them.